title: Testicular descent, cryptorchidism and inguinal hernia: the Melbourne perspective.
abstract: Cryptorchidism is the commonest congenital genitourinary anomaly in males and results when the testis does not descend into its normal intrascrotal position during development. In full-term infants, the incidence is approximately 3% at birth. Cryptorchidism results in several abnormalities, including attenuated spermatogenesis, infertility and a greater risk of malignancy. The normal mechanism of testicular descent appears to be multi-staged, with various anatomical factors and hormonal influences, but the exact process is still unclear. In this article we review the current theories of normal testicular descent, with a focus on the hormones and anatomical factors, and current treatments for undescended testis.
authors.affiliation: F. Douglas Stephens Surgical Research Laboratory, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Australia.
authors.forename: Hideki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tomiyama
authors.forename: Yasunari
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sasaki
authors.forename: Jenny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huynh
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Yong
authors.forename: Alvin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ting
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Hutson